Broad admits to frustration

Fast bowler Stuart Broad admitted to feeling frustrated as England battled a slow pitch at Trent Bridge on the second day of the first Test against India. After four wickets for two runs in the afternoon session, the hosts had India at 346 for nine and looked like they would remove the tourists for less than 400.

But a final-wicket partnership of 111 from Bhuvneshwar Kumar (58) and Mohammed Shami (51 not out) held Alastair Cook's men up, with the captain departing early as England reached 43 for one at the close.

"It was frustrating, but we tried pretty much everything with the ball," Broad told Sky Sports 2. "The ball was 50 overs old leading up to the new ball, and it wasn't really doing a huge amount. There wasn't much for length, so it was quite hard to buy a wicket.

"You were almost hoping for a batsman to make an error and, credit to the 10 and 11 of India, they didn't give us that error, really. It was frustrating, but actually if you break the day down and the session down, it was 90 for four that session. That was actually our best session of the game, but we walked off at tea a little bit frustrated.

"It's a good pitch to bat on. We stuck to our guns fantastically well - 457 could have been 600, no question about that. We bowled really well," Broad added.

India batted for a total of 161 overs, and with England lacking a front-line spinner, it was Broad and his fellow quicks who took the brunt of the workload. The Nottinghamshire man bowled 33 overs with James Anderson (38), Ben Stokes (34) and Liam Plunkett (37) all also having to work hard to find any kind of bounce.

With the Tests coming thick and fast this summer, many have expressed concerns about fatigue but Broad is hopeful some more forgiving surfaces will allow for some rest.

"It's a lot of overs early doors but that's sort of been due to the wickets we've been given. When nicks aren't carrying, you're not going to bowl teams out overly quickly. It is what it is. We have had a decent workload leading in but hopefully we'll bowl on some more favourable wickets coming our way," he said.

Broad has a history of a dodgy knee but he insisted his body held up well despite sending down 33 overs. "The knee has coped pretty well. I bowled 33 overs, not many Test matches you bowl that many in an innings. I kept trucking in. It was quite unresponsive but I can't praise the attitude of the guys enough," he said.

He added: "I've never seen a wicket like this (at Trent Bridge). I think Trent Bridge have come out and said it's a mistake and held their hands up which is all they can do. Our job as an England team is to forget what's happened with our bowling and get our minds clear about batting on because we want to get as close and past India."